Red & Green bags info for VicTAG - July 2010
Vic TAG QUM group endorses the use of Green Bags for patient’s own medication and Red Bags for inpatient only medication.
In an effort to standardise practice across the state, it was agreed that each colour bag should have only one purpose otherwise there could be confusion. The colour coding assists staff in recognising the function of each bag
- Green is for Go; these bags may go home with the patient
- Red is for stop: these bags must remain in hospital
VicTAG Bulletin - May 2010
Download the newsletter: VicTAG Bulletin - May 2010 (PDF)
Acute Postoperative Pain toolkit
The National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) is pleased to announce the release of the drug use evaluation (DUE) toolkit for Acute Postoperative Pain (APOP) management in hospitals. The DUE toolkit was developed following completion of the national quality improvement project on management of acute postoperative pain which was undertaken in 62 Australian hospitals (including 20 Victorian hospitals) during 2006/2007.
It consists of a downloadable electronic audit tool (e-DUE) and educational resources. The new standalone APOP e-DUE audit tool is more than a data collection tool. It can generate an export file and a summary report in an electronic format, and is reusable.
Postoperative surgical units may use the quality improvement tool to measure and improve the quality of postoperative pain management. The quality measures include pain assessment, postoperative analgesic use and patient perspectives on their pain and analgesic effectiveness.
Please see the media release for further information and for distribution to hospital staff.
The toolkit is accessible at:
Please pass on this information to your pain networks/colleagues and others that you feel would be interested in the toolkit.
Swine flu information
Information on Swine Flu is contained in the following government links:
http://humanswineflu.health.vic.gov.au/
Pharmacy alert:
http://humanswineflu.health.vic.gov.au/downloads/hp/h1n1_swineflu_pharm.pdf
Medication information:
http://humanswineflu.health.vic.gov.au/downloads/tamiflu.pdf
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)
From the 31 August IVIG will not be available from the Red Cross Blood Bank for unapproved indications (e.g. sepsis in adults, asthma). Hospitals will be required to purchase and hold IVIG for such purposes. VicTAG would like to identify hospitals that hold purchased stock which could be released in an emergency to another hospital.
The IVIG page in the Emergency and Life Savings Drugs Register contains incomplete data on IVIG.
Could advice on stock holdings of IVIG please be forwarded to
.
VicTAG Incorporation
At a meeting of members held at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on the 30 April 2008, the necessary steps to incorporate VicTAG were voted on, and office holders were elected.
VicTAG is now awaiting the final approval of incorporation from Corporate Affairs Victoria. The Statement of Purpose was approved along with the model rules.
The following Office bearers were elected:
Chairman
Dr Geoff Matthews, Vascular Physician Austin Health/Epworth Hospital
Vice Chairman
Kent Garrett, Director of Pharmacy Austin Health
Treasurer
David Ford, Director of Pharmacy Royal Melbourne Hospital
Secretary
Greg Weeks, Director of Pharmacy Barwon Health
Committee Members
Dr Chris O’Callaghan, Clinical Pharmacologist Austin Health
Ian Larmour, Director of Pharmacy Monash Medical Centre
Membership: Invitations will be sent shortly to each hospital explaining the membership process and inviting two nominees representing Drug and Therapeutics Committees to become members of VicTAG.
As a result of incorporation, individuals representing hospitals rather than hospitals themselves, become members of VicTAG. Subscriptions are paid on behalf of representative members by hospitals. The new Committee is yet to set membership fees.
Other newsletter items:
- QUM/Medication Safety Group
- Minster’s Visit
Download the newsletter: VicTAG Bulletin Issue 1 (PDF)